The proposed changes to high profile services, such as children’s inpatient, maternity, head and neck and stroke services, has resulted in significant public interest and concerns.

Councillors will meet at the special Cabinet meeting at 12.30pm to look at the proposed responses to ensure that the proposals put forward to the ‘Keeping it in the County’ consultation are safe and sustainable.

In doing so, we need your views and ask residents and partners to come along to the meeting.

Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader of the Council, said, “There are some very challenging times ahead, and we must now more than ever make sure we thoroughly look at way we move forward to create a health and care system in Shropshire that meets the needs of our residents in a more efficient, coherent and cost-effective way. We therefore urge all residents and partners, as a leading voice in our community, to come along. Your views are very important to us and will help us shape our formal response. Clearly to do nothing is not an option if we are to retain our valuable hospital services in Shropshire.”

The council’s draft response to the ‘Keeping it in the County’ consultation supports the proposals set out in the questionnaire, adding they must ensure, amongst other considerations, that they:

• have capacity to accommodate services
• achieve the best clinical outcomes
• are based on strengthening the services
• have the availability of funding and capital investments to make the changes required

Councillor Simon Jones, Cabinet member for adult social care services, said:

“We are very aware of the level of concern and uncertainty that accompanies these proposals, and we will be considering all aspects from different perspectives, whilst taking account of the views that will be expressed at Cabinet. We recognise that changes need to be made; however, these changes should not be at the cost of the health and safety of our residents. We need to make sure that we continue to deliver safe and high quality services to our local communities.”

The ‘Keeping it in the County’ consultation will end on 14 March 2011.